Vori: "No easy task in Russia"
No early celebrations, no thought about the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne before everything is clear: Croatian line player Igor Vori is expecting hard work in the second leg of the Quarterfinal of the VELUX EHF Champions League in Russia.
And that despite his team having won the first encounter with a clear 38:24. "We know their strength," Vori said in this interview with ehfCL.com.
ehfCL.com: Did you expect such a clear victory against Chekhovskie Medvedi in the first leg of the Quarterfinals?
Igor Vori: We hoped for it, but we did not expect it. Chekhovskie won their Group against strong teams like Valladolid or Szeged and they played their Last 16 match against Sarajevo in a brilliant and sovereign manner.
You cannot beat a team like Chekhovskie by just walking around – and we recognized their strength at the beginning of both the first and the second half. It is good for us that we reached such a clear result, but the Russians will mobilize all powers they have for the second leg.
ehfCL.com: What were the key factors for winning 38:24?
Igor Vori: Everything went well! Our goalkeepers had a real good day, the defence worked absolutely great and in attack we had our strength in the speed we could play. Those ingredients should be the same on Saturday, I hope.
ehfCL.com: Are those Quarterfinals already decided thanks to the 14 goal difference?
Igor Vori: No! We do not think like this. Indeed we managed a huge part of our work in the first leg, but we cannot rest on this cushion, as it is only halftime in the Quarterfinals. We start at zero in Russia – and we will settle the score in the end.
ehfCL.com: How do you prepare for the return match knowing that even a defeat with 13 goals would be enough to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4? Or are you playing to win?
Igor Vori: Of course we want to win in Chekhov. We know that this match will not be an easy task as Medvedi will try all they can to beat us. I cannot imagine that a coach like Vladimir Maximov has already written off this tie.
ehfCL.com: What would it mean to you personally to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne?
Igor Vori: To go to Cologne is a huge objective for me and the whole team. We want to reach this goal in 2011 after missing the first ever VELUX EHF FINAL4 last season very closely.
ehfCL.com: What chances would HSV have in Cologne?
Igor Vori: We do not have any thought on that before we have reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4. And before checking in to this destination we have a highly important match in Russia. In general I believe that everything is possible for any team going to Cologne. Every team can go for the title.
TEXT:
Björn Pazen